Is the Acura front or rear wheel drive?
In practice, Acura’s mainstream models are built around front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and there are no standard rear-wheel-drive cars in the current lineup. The standout exception is the NSX, which uses a high-performance all-wheel-drive hybrid system.
Understanding Acura’s drivetrain philosophy requires looking at how the brand positions its sedans, SUVs, and sports car. While many luxury brands offer rear-wheel-drive platforms, Acura leans on front-wheel drive as the baseline with optional all-wheel drive, plus a single high-performance AWD model in its lineup.
Drive layouts by Acura model family
Below is a concise breakdown of typical drivetrain options across Acura’s current models. Note that availability can vary by trim and year, and always confirm with a dealer for the exact configuration.
- ILX — Front-wheel drive (FWD) only; no factory all-wheel-drive option.
- TLX — Front-wheel drive is the base setup; all-wheel drive is available on higher trims as SH-AWD.
- MDX — Front-wheel drive is offered, with all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) available on most trims or options.
- RDX — Front-wheel drive is offered, with all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) available on most trims.
- NSX — All-wheel drive; a high-performance hybrid system (SH-AWD) that channels power to all four wheels.
Across these models, Acura’s approach prioritizes efficient packaging and traction via FWD or AWD, with no traditional rear-wheel-drive configuration in the standard lineup.
Technology behind Acura AWD
What SH-AWD adds to the mix
SH-AWD, Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, continually varies torque between wheels to improve cornering grip and stability. In everyday driving, it helps with traction in rain or light snow, while in sportier settings it can bias power toward the outside rear wheel to enhance handling feel.
NSX uses a sophisticated hybrid SH-AWD setup, integrating electric motors with the gasoline engine to provide torque vectoring and balanced power distribution across all four wheels, which is especially noticeable during aggressive driving or track use.
Historical context and current lineup
Historically, Acura’s mainstream cars have relied on front-wheel-drive platforms, with AWD offered as an option or standard on select models in recent years. The RLX, once a full-size flagship, has been discontinued, and the NSX remains the brand’s standalone all-wheel-drive performance model. For buyers seeking rear-wheel-drive dynamics, Acura’s current portfolio does not include a pure RWD sedan or SUV.
Bottom line
In short, Acura’s lineup centers on front-wheel-drive architecture with optional all-wheel drive across most models. There is no conventional rear-wheel-drive Acura model, and the standout exception—the NSX—uses an all-wheel-drive hybrid system to deliver high-performance capability.
Summary
Across Acura’s current range, front-wheel drive is the standard configuration, with all-wheel drive available on most mainstream models and is the only form of all-wheel drive featured prominently in the brand’s performance lineup (the NSX). There is no standard rear-wheel-drive model in Acura’s modern lineup, making FWD and SH-AWD the defining layouts for the brand today.
